Warning! This book may be inappropiate for young readers.

The Compendium of Contemporary Weapons is both a historical and modern reference book. It is an illustrated guide to modern weapons, combat vehicles, equipment and accessories as used by military and law enforcement agencies throughout the world. It is a sourcebook designed for use with role-playing games set in a modern, post modern or military settings.

This book is NOT an instruction manual. It does not teach the reader on how to build, manufacture, modify, purchase or use small arms.

It is not a survivalist's handbook nor meant to be a pro- civil arms statement. None of us at Palladium Books condone or encourage the use of firearms or violence.

Some parents may find a book detailing firearms as inappropiate for young readers/players. We suggest parental discretion.

For use with ANY role-playing game.

3Smm Arpad 600 Close Support Weapon

40mm MM-1 Grenade Launcher

Olin/Heckler and Koch Close Assault Weapon System (CAWS)

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Compatible with RECON®, Heroes Unlimited™, Ninjas & Superspies™, Beyond the Supernatural'M and the entire Palladium Books® Megaverse®.

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Dedicated to My Father, I wish you could see how it all turned out. And to Dad for being there, even when he didn't want to be. I love you both.

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I Warning I This book contains new and original works of art that are protected by Federal Copyright Law. NO artwork may be i

I printed or published in any form, for any reason, without written permission from the publisher of Palladium Books Inc. i I !he use of this artwork, in any product not produced by Palladium Books is a Federal crime! Offenders will be pursued I 1m Federal Court. a • 1.1111111111110111.1111111111.111.111111111111 ...... 1 .......... 11 .. 1.11.l1li11 •• l1li ............ 1 ........ 1.1 .. 1 .. 111111111111111111111111.11111111111111111111111"_1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111IIIIIIIIIII.II!!

Fourth Printing - June, 2001

Copyright © 1984 & 1993 Kevin Siembieda.

AIl rights reserved under the Universal Copyright Convention. No part of this book may be reproduced in part or whole, in any form or by any means, without permission from the publisher, except fm' brief quotes for use in reviews. All incidents, situations, institutions, governments and people are fictional and any similarity, without satiric intent, of characters or persons living or dead, is strictly coincidental.

Palladium Books, Rifts and Megaverse are all registered trademarks owned & licensed by Kevin Siembieda.

The Compendium of Contemporary Weapons™ is published by Palladium Books® Inc., 12455 Universal Drive, Taylor, MI 48180. Printed in the USA.

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Palladium Books ®presents:

The Compendium of

Contemporary Weapons· Written By: Maryann Siembieda

Additional Writing By: Matthew Balent Kevin Siembieda

Research & Compiling: Maryann Siembieda Kevin Siembieda Brian Siembieda Matthew Balent Alex Marciniszyn

Senior Editor: Alex Marciniszyn

Editors: Thomas Bartold James A. Osten

Cover Painting: John Zeleznik

Interior Art: Steven Stalter Kevin Siembieda Wayne Breaux Roger Peterson Thomas Miller

Art Direction & Keylining: Kevin Siembieda

Typography: Maryann Siembieda

K. SIEMS/fDA 19'13

Special Thanks to Steve Stalter who did an outstanding job on his portion of the weapon artwork. Wayne Breaux, Roger Peterson and George Evans for jumping in on short notice to help on the art. Lastly, I must thank my hard working wife, Maryann, who put a year of research and work into this monster of a book. (And Kevin who kept telling me I could do it).

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Contents Page

Guidelines for using the Contemporary Weapons Book .............................................. 5 Abbreviations and Terms ...•.......•.•..•...•.•..•......••...••..••..•....•..•....... 6

Modern Ammunition ...•.•.......................................................•...... 6 How a Bullet Wounds .............•.......•.......•.................................. 6 Combat Ammunition .....................•..•....................................... 7 Illustration of Combat Bullets •••••••.•..•...........•..••••••.••.••.................•.. 8

Ammunition Damage & Penetration Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Special Cartridges, Bonuses & Penalties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 11

Weapon Prices in an RPG Setting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 12 Firearms & Damage in RPGs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 14

Shock .....•................................................................... 15 Blood Loss . . • . . . • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . • . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 16 Hit Location, Damage & Penalties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 16 Random Hit Location Table . . . . • . . . . • . • • . . . . • • • . . • • . • • • . • . . . . . . • . . • . . . • . . . • • . . . . • • • . •. 17 Damage at Point-Blank Range ..•...................................................... 18 Average Damage Levels of Bullets ....................................................... 18

Palladium's Combat System for Modern Weapons ................................................ 19 Body Armor •............•......................................................•... , 20

Body Armor Classes . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 21

Riot Control Devices .....•...•......................................................... 31

EOD Equipment ................•.......................................... . . . . . . . . . .. 35

Revolvers & Pistols •...........•..•.....................•.............................. 37 France .........•.•......•....•....... ::: : ...................................... 43 Germany ...........•.•........•................................................ 44 Old USSR ...................................................................... 55 United Kingdom ..•...••........•.....•..•.•........................•............. 56 USA •.....•...................................•............................... 57

Rifles .................•..••............•.......................................... 61 Germany .................•.................•................................... 68 Old USSR ..........•.............•......•...............•...................... 75 United Kingdom ..................•••..........•.................................. 76 USA ......•..•.••.••••.••.•.............•...•.•.....•...••..•............•..•. 79 Rifle Accessories ..•.•.•............•..................... • ........................ 83

Shotguns ...............•.......................................•...•............... 85

Sub-machineguns . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 88 France .........•...•.......•................................................•.. 92 Germany ...........•........................................................•.. 93 Old USSR ..•.•.•...•.....•...•.•.....•......................................... 98 United Kingdom ......•..•.•....................•.............•................... 99 USA •.•.•.•...........•.•••••.•.•..•..•.•••••.••.•.•..•...............•.•.... 100

Machine Guns . . . . • . • . • . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 102 Combat Hand Grenades ................................................................ 109 Light Support Weapons .•...•........................................................•. 112

Flamethrowers ..............•....................................... . .........•. 112 Grenade & Rocket Launchers ....................•.....•............................. 114

Special Support Weapons & Anti-Tank .•.•.••••.••..•••••..••..••........•...•.•............ 123

Anti-Aircraft ............•..............•.....•...................................•. 141 Mortars. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 142 Pyrotechnics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 145 Surveillance Equipment .....•...•..•.••.••......•...•...................•.........•.... 149

Sighting Equipment •..•.••.•.••.•.••.••.••.. • . • . • • • • • • •. . . . . . • • . • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • . .. 151

Tanks & Armored Vehicles .............................................................. 156 Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 169 Index .............•.......•...................................•..••.............. 170

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Guidelines for using the

KEVIN SIENtB/EDA /q&'f

Contemporary Weapons Book

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First, this is not a game system! This is a guidebook to contemporary weapons for use in ANY role-playing game. The basic information and guidelines may have to be adjusted to reflect each individual system of rules, but are presented in such a way that this should be a quick and easy procedure.

Second, we do not even pretend to have included all of the types and variations of firearms in the world. We have tried to include "most" weapons that are representative of the major types of small arms available today. Consequently, we have intentionally limited the firearms in this book to weapons man­ufactured after 1930 or still commQnly used (like the Browning and Colt which were produced around the tum of the century, but are still popular today).

Third, the statistical data listed is meant to provide subjective guidelines for use in role-playing games. They are as accurate as we believe necessary. Those of you who are familiar with our previous weapon books know we strive to achieve maximum accuracy and authenticity. However, this is especially difficult with firearms. Everybody who has ever fired a gun (or even reads about them) seems to have a different opinion. Even the experts disagree about each weapon's effectiveness, damage capability, penetration, range and maintenance. Even among Palladium Books researchers, one felt automatic weapons were superior to revolvers, while another leaned toward revolvers. Each had sound, logical reasons, statistics and personal experi­ence to support their arguments. One even disagreed with the effective ranges as listed in Jane's Infantry Weapons book, which is generally acknowledged as the definitive book on the subject. It really broke down to personal preference, experience and opinion.

Fourth, the tissue damage ratings and penetration ratings are NOT meant to accurately reflect the damage in the real world, but a reasonable translation into game standards.

Fifth, we chose line illustrations over photographs to provide a maximum amount of detail as clearly as possible. Great effort went into the accurate portrayal of the weapons, vehicles and accessories. Each illustration has been painstakingly researched. One of our illustrators even works for the Browning Company.

Sixth, heavy weapons and vehicles such as anti-tank weapons, grenades, rocket launchers, flamethrowers, light artillery, ar­mored vehicles and other items are given comparatively limited coverage. They are included to give the reader some idea of the different types of larger and heavier weapons and vehicles avail­able. Furthermore, when Palladium's small, original weapon

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book was sold, many readers asked for at least some basic coverage in these areas. We aim to please, so they are included.

Seventh, all the weapons in this book are real. There are no fictional laser rifles or energy guns .

Eighth, this book is in no way intended as a guide for sur­vivalist or pro-civil arms movements. Although the weapons are real, this book does not encourage their use by civilians.

Abbreviations and Terms

Approximate Effective Range: This is the generally accepted maximum range in which the weapon is considered to operate most effectively and accurately. Typically, a round/bullet can be fired at 10% to 20% farther than the effective range, but the shooter should have dramatic penalties or modifiers to strike. For the Palladium Game System, we'd suggest a - 6 to strike and is equal to shooting wild.

Barrel Length: This is only the length of the barrel. The overall length, when it is known, is listed in parenthesis after the barrel length.

Belt Feed: A system of supplying ammunition to a machine gun in the form of a continuous belt. One common type of belt feed is the disintegrating link, which consists of independent clips that fall away after the round/bullet is fired.

Bolt Action: Used mainly in older rifles and hunting type rifles. By pulling back the "bolt," a spent shell casing is ejected from the breech . A spring-loaded mechanism then snaps the bolt forward, closing the breech and a fresh round/cartridge/ bullet is moved into firing position.

Bullet: The common term for ammunition/cartridge/round fired from a weapon.

Caliber: The internal diameter of a weapon's barrel. The Amer­ican and British usage of caliber is expressed in hundredths or thousandths of an inchand typically written as a decimal fraction; eg. .357, .45, .22 caliber, etc. Others are expressed in millimeters; ego 9 mm, 7.65 mm, and so on.

Cartridge: Type of round/bullet; ammunition. Clips: Metal grips which hold the cartridge by the rim or base,

which is then inserted into the magazine, forming part of the magazine mechanism.

Damage: The typical amount of damage inflicted by a round/bul­let. It does not take into consideration special cartridges, or internal damage, blood loss and shock to the human body.

Feed: Method by which the cartridge enters/feeds into the weapon .

F.N.: A reference to the weapons manufacturer, Fabrique Na­tional d' Armes de Guerre of Belguim.

Length: "mm" means metric millimeters. Magazine: The compartment which holds ammunition and is

directly inserted into the weapon; typical of automatic weapons.

Muzzle Velocity: "m1s" indicates the meters per second the cartridge is traveling when it leaves the muzzle of the weapon.

Penetration Value (P.V.): The penetration of a round/bullet through materials other than soft flesh and cloth. The higher the number, the greater the penetration.

Rounds: The number of cartridges/bullets/rounds held inside the weapon and/or weapon cartridge; i.e., seven rounds means seven bullets/cartridges are contained in that weapon when

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fully loaded. Seven bullets/cartridges/rounds can be fired from that loaded weapon. l3 rounds means it contains l3 bullets, 30 rounds means 30 bullets, and so on.

Weight: "gm" means metric grams; "kg" means kilograms.

Modern Ammunition By Matthew Balent

The easiest way to categorize firearm ammunition is by its intended purpose, i.e., target shooting, hunting, or combat. Al­though there can obviously be overlap between all of these categories, there is no 'universal round' which excells in all. In most cases, a seasoned shooter will choose ammunition based on what type of situation he feels he is most likely to encounter in the field.

The Modern Cartridge Virtually all modem firearms fire metallic centerfire cartridges

(although the .22 uses a rimfire design). The metallic cartridge design originated in France in 1845 as a way to contain bullet, powder, and primer in a single unit. Originally the design was rimfire, meaning the primer (fulminate of mercury) is contained around the rim of the cartridge . The primer ignites when struck by the weapon's hammer or firing pin.

The next revolutionary step in cartridge design came in the 1860's when the primer was placed in a small, separate unit pressed into the center of the base. With this design, much more powerful cartridges could be developed.

In its basic form, the cartridge consists ofthe following parts: Primer: Contained in a small metal cap which is pressed into

the base of the cartridge case. When struck by the firing pin it ignites and sets off the charge.

Case: The metal (generally brass) tube which holds the powder and is capped by the bullet.

Charge: This is what propels the bullet. Normally comprised of nitro-cellulose/nitro-glycerine propellants.

Slug: The bullet. It is held in place by crimping the neck of the case.

Firearm Techno-babble If you read any in-depth study of bullet performance (or any

of innumerable magazine articles) you will certainly come across an array of terms designed to quantify, measure and compare. Many of these are used only to support the author's own particular point of view. In game terms, however, these are irrelevant. If you are seriously interested, most ammunition manufacturers (such as Winchester) publish statistics on their products, includ­ing data on bullet weight, muzzle energy, trajectory, velocities at various points, etc. You can also get data on penetration capabilities, TKO (Taylor Knock Out) factors, expansion charac­teristics, and a lot of other stuff from reading any of the countless books, magazines and articles on the subject.

How a Bullet Wounds A bullet wounds a target ill two ways, penetration and disrup­

tion. Penetration is perhaps the most obvious form as this in­volves the bullet passing through the target. As it does so, it punctures and tears whatever is in its way. If a vital organ, bone, or blood vessel is hit, serious damage can result.

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